Palace: PHL, US share view on resolving territorial row with China

From the Philippine News Agency (Jul 13): Palace: PHL, US share view on resolving territorial row with China

The recent statement of US President Barack Obama warning China to refrain from using force or intimidation to resolve the maritime disputes in the West Philippine Sea is consistent with the Philippine government’s position, a Palace official said Saturday.

Meeting Chinese officials in Washington this week, Obama warned China on using force against its neighbors and urged it to adopt a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

In a radio interview over dzRB Radyo ng Bayan on Saturday, Deputy Presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said she can’t predict how Obama’s statement will influence other countries in settling the dispute in the West Philippine Sea.

But since the country brought the issue to international arbitration, Valte said there are a number of countries and institutions that have expressed support for the Philippine position.

“In the sense that we’ve taken it, we’ve gone through diplomatic channels, we’ve gone through the correct venue for the settlement of disputes such as this, and we’ve always advocated for a peaceful resolution,” she said.

“So we’ve received widespread support on the position that the country has chosen to take.”

The Philippine government has maintained that any maritime dispute in the West Philippine Sea should be resolved under a rules-based regime of the international law.

The Philippines and Vietnam charged that China has used assertive means to exert claims in the West Philippine Sea.

The Philippines said it is contemplating on the possibility of allowing its allies, particularly the US, to use its military base on a temporary and rotational basis to bolster its defense capability against Chinese intrusion.

While saying it’s not taking sides, the US has said since 2010 that its national interest is ensuring freedom of navigation in the West Philippine Sea.

Considering the ongoing tensions, the US has boosted military cooperation with Japan and the Philippines as well as with former war adversary Vietnam.

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